Fresh Tracks

Stratton Mountain Resort is committed to a role of environmental leadership across all areas of our business. It is our priority and responsibility to be stewards of the natural environment in which we live, work, and play by incorporating a sustainable point of view into every business decision. Our sustainable point of view is based on the intent to reduce our footprint by actively pursuing innovative solutions, particularly in the areas of resource (land, water, air), energy, and waste management. This initiative is called Fresh Tracks and it aims to implement change resort-wide, while educating and empowering our colleagues, community, and guests.

Why Fresh Tracks?

You know that feeling you get when you wake up in the morning, the sun barely rising, and you see a pristine blanket of snow gently enveloping everything in site? All of a sudden something clicks inside you as you race to put on your gear and get first chair, taking that initial lap with a perma-smile as each fresh track paints a picture worth 1000 words. That is the feeling we want to propagate for you, your children, your grandchildren, and many generations beyond.

Stratton relishes a strong history of environmental accomplishments. Fresh Tracks is dedicated to creating a home where nature, people, and recreation may coexist year after year. Browse below to see what we’ve done to make Stratton Mountain Resort a better place for all inhabitants.

High efficiency electric air compressor installed in place of outdated diesel compressor for snowmaking reducing fossil fuel dependence and associated carbon emissions by the equivalent of 451 barrels of oil per year

10 new HKD SV10 efficient snowmaking guns installed to replace 10 Royal Roger Knight land gun with a projected savings of 92,920 kWh of energy per year, which is equivalent to 13.7 Vermont homes’ annual electricity use.

Initiated all resort compost project through Casella, resulting in the diversion of waste equivalent to the size of a Nordic groomer from the landfill in the first week. Compost is brought to an off-grid farm in New York that produces energy to sell back to the grid.

Installed cork flooring in Dashing Bear in place of carpet. Cork is renewable resource that can be harvested for up to 350 years from the same tree, containing natural thermal insulation and hypo-allergenic properties.

All Stratton owned retail equipped with 2x2 LED lighting fixtures as recommended by Efficiency Vermont

Recycled wood and VOC-free paint used in all 2013 renovations, including Burton store and First Run.

New carpet made from recycled fibers installed in Burton, First Run, and Mid Mountain lodge

Food and beverage sourcing from local bakeries, such as Red Hen Bakery in Middlesex, VT, decreasing the distance from farm to table.

2012 Improvements in LED lighting in the base lodge, and higher efficiency snow gun equipment, resulted in 49,529 kWh and $74,531 saved.

Higher efficiency snow gun equipment is using 90% less compressed air than old snowmaking equipment. For every new gun installed with this efficiency, 10 old guns can be replaced.

Four undersized culverts that were compromised during Tropical Storm Irene were replaced and upgraded. Larger culverts with natural bottoms allows fish and biota free passage in streams

Tributary 1 achieved 2 years of consecutive positive water quality results, qualifying for delisting from the state impaired waters list.

Recognized by Efficiency Vermont for achieving goals of the Energy Leadership Challenge along with other energy leaders including Sugarbush Resort, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Energizer Battery Manufacturing Company.

Improvements in LED lighting in parking lots, street lamps, retail stores, and condos, resulted in a projected annual savings of 520,923 kWh and $473,089.

Phillips A19 LED lamps installed in 2011 save $130 in energy per light bulb, lasting longer than a non-LED light bulb without using mercury in manufacturing.

Stratton is able to re-route our waste to Casella Waste Management’s new single stream recycling facility in Rutland, VT. This allows us to reduce the transportation time and associated carbon emissions while maintaining our ability to utilize zero-sort recycling.

Introduction of athletic shoe recycling at the Sports Center. Over 30 pairs of shoes donated to One World Running.

Introduction of ski and snowboard collection for Vermont Furniture Company

Stratton introduces Single Stream Recycling at all resort operated locations where all recyclable material can be collected in one receptacle. Increase of 13% tonnage in recycling and reduction of 24% in solid waste.

The Inn at Stratton Mountain earns designation as a Green Hotel in the Green Mountain State through implementation of in room and common area recycling, green cleaning products, recycled paper products, environmentally friendly toiletries, and lighting upgrades.

Stratton and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science join forces to study the mountain’s Bicknell’s Thrush, a sensitive high altitude bird species. Stratton is the first Vermont Resort to Complete a Master Plan for Resort development.

Stratton wins the Golden Eagle Award for Wildlife Habitat Protection.

­Stratton funds a $100,000 grant to launch six-year radio telemetry study by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department designed to identify key components of critical black bear habitat and determine how the black bear responds to changing land use.